Monica Naranjo

Mónica Naranjo Carrasco (Figueras, Catalonia, May 23, 1974) is a Spanish singer, songwriter, music producer and presenter.

Recognized for her skilled and powerful voice, she has released seven studio albums and six live albums, and has sold more than 10 million records worldwide. She began her career in the early 1990s and jumped to international fame with the album Palabra de mujer, which sold more than two and a half million copies and became one of the best-selling albums in the history of Spanish music. Among her musical awards and recognitions, three World Music Awards stand out, making her the female Spanish singer with the most awards in that category.

Biography

Daughter of Andalusian parents (Francisco and Patricia). Her father was born in the town of Montejaque (Málaga) and her mother in Seville.^{[citation required]} Later they emigrated to Catalonia in the 1960s, Mónica Naranjo was born in Figueras (Catalonia, Spain) on May 23, 1974 in the bosom of a humble family. She is the eldest of three siblings (the other two are named Enrique and Raquel).^{[citation needed]}

From the age of four she felt that music was what she really wanted to dedicate her life to, so at fourteen her mother decided to enroll her in a singing school and give her a voice recorder so she could make her first recordings.^{[citation needed]} Despite these difficult times for the family, her mother always supported Monica in her decisions. As the artist recalls, her mother worked as an assistant at the home of some doctors who were related to the artist Salvador Dalí, with whom she met on several occasions. She remembers that the artist looked at her with suspicion, but on one occasion Mónica's mother told Dalí that her daughter wanted to sing. As her advice, she replied that what she should do was let herself be carried away by her passion. Advice that Monica did not understand until years later.

Career

Beginnings in music, success in Mexico and Spain (1994 - 2007)

In 1991 he met the composer and music producer Cristóbal Sánsano, with whom he made several promotional tours throughout Spain; but it did not have the expected success, so she decided to emigrate to Mexico.^{[citation required]} There, Mónica Naranjo made her recording debut at the age of 20, releasing Mónica Naranjo in 1994 with Sony Music. Produced by Cristóbal Sansano, the self-titled album spawned a string of singles including "El amor coloca", "Alone", "Sólo se vive una vez", " 34;Listen to me".

In 1995 he performed a duet with Ricardo Cocciante on the song Sobre tu piel for his album A happy man. The song was released as a single by Naranjo in 1999 and featured on their 2019 compilation album Renaissance.

In 1995 he also participated in the soundtrack of the film The Swan Princess with the song "Until the End of the World", along with singer Mikel Herzog.^{[ citation required]}

Monica Orange acting in the Tour Minage.

The follow-up album Palabra de mujer released in 1997, again produced by Cristóbal Sánsano, spawned another round of hit singles including "Untie me", "Pantera libertad& #34;, "The bells of love" and "Understanding Love".

Naranjo's third album, Minage (2000) was a comprehensive tribute to Italian diva Mina Mazzini. While her record label was not particularly pleased with her decision to release a Naranjo album, this guy, just as some of her fans weren't enthusiastic about her move away from commercial pop, Minage still sold over a million copies worldwide, spawning a few hits most notably "I Will Survive".

On this album, Monica decided to change her image: long black hair, and a mostly dark outfit, with rock and gothic influences. That same year (2000) he participated in the Pavarotti and Friends gala, singing a duet with Pavarotti on the song "Agnus Dei".^{[citation required]} A At the beginning of 2001, her compilation album Mónica Naranjo, Grandes Éxitos was released in Mexico.^{[citation required]}

In contrast to Minage, Mean Girls (2001), Naranjo's fourth album, is a dance-pop album. Includes the singles "Mean Girls", "Sacrifice", "I Won't Cry" and "Ain't It Better Like This". That year he also participated in the movie Marujas asesinas .

An English version of Bad Girls, Bad Girls, was released in 2002 in order to exploit the record in the Anglo-Saxon market, with the single single "I Ain't Gonna Cry'. She additionally recorded the song for the 2002 Soccer World Cup in Korea and Japan; "Santa Señal", and in English, "Shake The House".^{[citation required]}

Due to the restructuring of the record company, the project Chicas malas / Bad Girls did not achieve the expected worldwide success despite the investment made. David Massey was the executive in charge of its management and implementation, and in whom she trusted, the only time that Monica artistically trusted the label. For her part, Mónica was suffering difficult personal moments due to the recent death of her brother Enrique. According to recent statements, despite the fact that her brother was ill, the company pressured her to finish the project, and even threatened to sue her if she it did not come to fruition. This made Mónica stay away from the music industry for a long period of time, except for some special collaborations.

A few years later a greatest hits collection was released, Private Collection (2005), with a new single, "In love with you". participated in the tribute concert to Rocío Jurado, Rocío... siempre that would lead to an album in 2007, , with the duet of the copla "Punto de partida& #3. 4;. ^{[citation required]}

Return to music and transition to the symphonic/electrorock stage (2008 - 2014)

In 2008, seven years after Mean Girls, she released her album Tarántula, led by the chart-topping single "Europa" Spanish for six consecutive weeks.

Monica Naranjo in Adagio Tour.

The musical tour was recorded on the CD/DVD Stage that went on sale a year later. This album managed to reach the top of the sales charts, staying for more than nine weeks, achieving a platinum record.^{[citation needed]} It was followed by a symphony tour, which resulted in Adagio, a CD/DVD release of recordings from the tour.

In 2011, she performed the song "Empress of my dreams," the opening theme of the Mexican telenovela Emperatriz. That same year he embarked on the Madame Noir Tour, a musical work based on the backstage of the 40s and 50s of film noir.^{[citation required i>]} He also recorded with Brian Cross two songs "Dream Alive" and "Crying for Heaven". In September he was part of the jury in the program Your face sounds to me and at the end of that year he released the compilation album La más perfecto colección with his best hits, in Mexico.^{[citation required]}

In 2012 Mónica participated as a jury in the program El número uno on Antena 3.^{[citation required]} The single &#34 came out;Make You Rock". At the end of that year, she participated, once again, as a jury in the second edition of Your face sounds to me . That year she received the Maguey Award for Sexual Diversity, which was awarded for the first time within the framework of the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Mexico.The choice of her received criticism for her poor film career.

In June 2013, he embarked on a new tour called Ídolos en Concierto produced by Hugo Mejuto, where he shared the stage with Marta Sánchez and María José. Together they sang "Hasta el fin". the artist herself.^{[citation required]}

Monica Naranjo 4.0 Tour

In 2014, it released 4.0. A collection of "electrorock reworkings", elaborate mixes, of some of his hits. With this release, she celebrated her 40th anniversary and her 20-year artistic career.^{[citation required]} From March 2014 to April of the same year, she premiered as a presenter on television, in the musical talent show of the Antena 3 network ¡A bailar!.

Symphonic stage and beginnings as a television presenter (2015 - present)

On January 29, 2016, the singer released the album Lubna, which marked the return to musical activity after seven years since the last release of a studio album. It featured two singles "Never" and "Fin", both premiered on the program Qué tiempo tan feliz. The same day of its release, Mónica begins the first of her four record signing dates, reaching be in one of them up to 14 hours by signing. In less than a week she already got the gold record. ^{[citation needed ]}

That same year she was named as an ambassador for LR Health & Beauty Systems, launching months later her first perfume, Mónica Naranjo. Eau de perfum.^{[citation required]} In October 2016, Avui Vull Agrair was published, the first song sung by her in Catalan, and which can be found on the La Marató de TV3 album. In mid-November 2016, a new video clip "Perdida" came to light, it managed to exceed 200,000 views in the first weeks, and reappeared on the sales charts along with its new remix. A few days later, the reissue of Lubna went on sale, which includes the songs in symphonic mode, the new remixes, a DVD with the video clips from this period, and a book.

In December she performed at the Gala de los 60 años de la TVE, singing Camilo Sesto's song "To live like this is to die of love".^{[ citation required]}

Between October 2017 and February 2018, he formed the jury of the program Operación triunfo 2017. That year for the 18th anniversary of Minage the album was released on Picture Disc. In October she was invited to perform in Grandiosas Sinfónico along with singers Marta Sánchez, Ángela Carrasco, Manoella Torres and Dulce. At the end of the year it was confirmed that after her separation from her husband, she began recording a sex program entitled Mónica and sex. ^[ citation required ]

In 2019 his return to music was confirmed with Mes Excentricités, several volumes in which the first of them will be released this year under the name Mes Excentricités, Vol. 1: “Le Psychiatrique” and will cover new sounds that are different from each other.^{[citation needed]} This same year the premiere of Mónica y el sexo has been confirmed at Mediaset España, and a new tour, the Renaissance Tour, where, according to the artist, the past, present and future will come together. During January and February 2020, she presented the program La isla de las tentaciones on the Mediaset España group channel, Cuatro. ^{[citation needed ]}

In 2023, she is part of the jury for the third season of Mask Singer

Private life

Having a relationship since 1993, in 1998 she married her producer and artistic discoverer Cristóbal Sánsano, from whom she separated in 2002,^{[citation required]} although they continued working together until 2010.

In 2003 she began a relationship with Óscar Tarruella, when he was a mosso d'esquadra (criminalist for the Catalan police force). Both met during the investigation of a robbery that occurred at the artist's house. Tarruella voluntarily left the police force in 2008, in order to deal full time with Naranjo's management tasks for his return to the stage that year.

After fifteen years of relationship, on July 9, 2018 Mónica Naranjo announced her sentimental separation with Óscar with the following statement:

“We address you to inform you that from now on our personal lives will go different ways. This decision, meditated and mutually agreed, was taken from the affection and respect we have. As for the work, we will continue to work together, as we have been doing for so many years. We take the opportunity to thank you for the respect you have always had for our family.”

Monica Naranjo, Óscar Tarruella

Although at first it was announced that Tarruella would continue to be the singer's manager, months later it was learned that their employment relationship was also broken, dissolving the management agency Alaia Productions that both founded together. Curiously, Alaia was the name with which the first daughter in common would be baptized and which never came.

Despite not openly defining herself as bisexual, Mónica Naranjo has publicly acknowledged having had occasional lesbian sexual relations; She is also an international activist for the rights of the LGBT community.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1994: Monica Naranjo
• 1997: Women's Word
• 2000: Minage
• 2001: Bad girls
• 2008: Tarantula
• 2016: Lubna
• 2022: Mimétika

Live albums

• 2005: Minage Tour
• 2009: Stage
• 2009: Adagio
• 2011: Madame Noir
• 2020: Renaissance (Live)
• 2021: Puro Minage Live

Compilation albums

• 2005: Private Collection
• 2014: 4.0
• 2019: Renaissance

EPs

• 2019: Months Eccentricités, Vol. 1
• 2020: Months Eccentricités, Vol. 2

Tours

• 1995-1996: Monica Naranjo Tour
• 1998: Tour Woman's Word
• 2000: Tour Minage
• 2008: Tour
• 2009-2010: Adagio Tour
• 2011-2012: Madame Noir
• 2013: Idols in Concert
• 2014-2015: 4.0 Tour
• 2019-2020: Renaissance Tour: 25th anniversary
• 2020-2021: Pure Minage Tour
• 2022: Valent in Concert
• 2022 - 2023: Mimetika Tour

Filmography

TV Shows

As fixed

As a guest

Cinema

Books

• 2013: Eat and shut up, ISBN 9788427040717
• 2016: LVBNA the sea hides a secret, ISBN 9788427040717

Awards

Friendly Awards

• 1998: Award for the Best Spanish soloist.

World Music Awards

• 1996: Best Selling Spanish Artist (Latin Edition).
• 1998: Best Selling Spanish Artist.
• 2010: Best Selling Spanish Artist.

Shanghai Awards

• 2001: Award for the Best Female Artist.
• 2001: Award for Best Pop album Minage.

Maguey Award

• 2012: To sexual diversity.

Gourmand Awards

• 2014: Book Award Eat and shut up.

Innovation Award for the Opera

• 2017: Award for the LUBNA work.

Pride of My City

• 2018: Award for its outstanding international career.

Dial Awards

• 2020: Award for his artistic career (25 years).
• 2022: Award at the XXVI edition.